BowlGUARANTEED RATE

With a new head coach on the sidelines, Wisconsin ended its season in a customary Badgers football way – with a bowl game victory. After racing out to a 17-7 halftime lead and withstanding an Oklahoma State fourth quarter comeback, the Badgers held on for a 24-17 victory in the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Downtown Phoenix.

After Wisconsin took the initial advantage with a 49-yard field goal by Nate Van Zelst to cap the Badgers’ opening possession, Oklahoma State claimed its only lead of the game on an 84-yard pitch and catch from Garret Rangel to Stephon Johnson Jr.

Wisconsin reeled off 21 unanswered points that kept the Pokes off the scoreboard until early in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma State closed within 24-17 with 5:02 remaining but couldn’t get any closer.

Offensively, the Badgers relied on a punishing ground game led by Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi. Allen, the Offensive Player of the Game, rushed for 116 yards on 22 carries and a score, while Mellusi added 77 yards and a touchdown. In total, Wisconsin rushed for 258 yards, nearly matching Oklahoma State’s entire offensive output (281). Jordan Turner, the Defensive Player of the Game, led the Badgers with eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry.

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